Howling Woods Farm, NJ: Have You Ever Petted a Wolf?

Wolves are often misunderstood animals that have been portrayed as fearsome creatures in many folklore and fairy tales. But, at Howling Woods Farm, located in Jackson Township in New Jersey, you will see, interact, hear, and touch wolves in a whole new light.

There is this incredible rescue center near where my parents live about Wolves. Well, it’s not exactly about Wolves. Obviously, they rescue wolf pups. I didn’t even realize this was an issue, but it’s a pretty strong and really severe issue that is happening. This is my full experience at a wolf rescue center called Howling Woods Farm in New Jersey.

a family sitting on a wood stan with two wolves
Visitors at Howling Woods Farm have the rare opportunity to interact closely with wolves under expert supervision.

The Issue

There are people that are selling wolf pups kind of on the black market. So, a Wolf pup is anything that has a bit of a dog mix in them. There is something called a “wolf-dog hybrid,” which basically means they are 50% domesticated dogs and 50% wild wolves, and it’s only a certain amount that is actually permitted to be sold regularly in actual certified shops and breeders.

But there’s also a lot that is on the black market, and wolf pups sound like such a great idea, right? However, it’s a great idea if you have acres of land and these animals can run freely, even though they are still kind of enclosed and become your domesticated animals. But they are not domesticated animals at all. There are still a lot of wolves, like wolves wild wolves, in them.

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The Solution

What happens is, number one, that it becomes a regulated problem; sometimes people see that, wait, this is a Wolf pup that has too much wolf in it, and they get taken away; where are they going to go? No worries.

There are these rescue centers that take these the other biggest issue, which probably is like the 90% problem, is once a family takes in a wolf pup, and they’re tiny. Puppies are tiny. I have this gorgeous German Shepherd. When he arrived at our house, he was smaller than my Shih Tzu, and then all of a sudden, he grew to be a 90-pound German Shepherd, and he was not even on the large side.

So, wolf pups grow to be even bigger. If you’re going to get a wolf pup and you have an apartment, guess what? It’s horrible, and they are really active, and they get very bored and they start to rip the house apart.

wolf howling at a wolf sanctuary in new jersey
The wolves at Howling Woods Farm are socialized to be comfortable around humans while maintaining their natural behaviors.

Okay, so what happens? They want to get rid of it, but they can’t be sent to shelter because they’re wolves. So this particular rescue center called Howling Woods Farm in New Jersey is a Mecca for these places. This place is incredible. So they open it up for tours because it’s a huge property of around about 10 acres, and these wolves get to run and be free.

As per the Howling Woods Farm, there are a total of 21 wolfdogs on site, each with a unique story of how they ended up at the farm. Some were surrendered by their owners, who could no longer care for them, while others were rescued from abusive situations or found as strays. You can get yourself close and personal with these amazing creatures on a guided tour of the farm, where you will learn all about their behavior, habitat, and conservation efforts.

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Howling Woods Farm in New Jersey

You come in, and you get to enter into these areas where these wolves are. Some are separated from others because they also have sites, and they have to be properly taken care of. They are abandoned animals who need particular care, and this special place honestly does give them this care. 

Tour

So my family and I went there for a day. It’s only a couple of hours that you do the tour, and you just walk around. It is definitely structured and organized, and it’s very educational, and you also get hands-on with these wolves. It’s amazing to see how gentle and loving these animals can be despite their reputation in stories and movies.

During the tour, we learned about the different species of wolves that reside at Howling Woods Farm. So, some of the wolfdogs are like 90% gray wolf, you know? Others are a mix, ranging from about 50% wolf with a Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, or German shepherd in there.

The Wolves

a family standing next to a wolf at howling wood farm
Howling Woods Farm provides a safe haven for wolves that cannot be released into the wild.

To be honest with you, some of these Wolves were more domesticated than my own doggies, but that’s a whole other story. One of the wolves there is 90% wolf, so it’s truly incredible to see.

Why is this place called Howling Woods Farms?

Because these babies, they howl, and it is absolutely amazing, and they howl a lot and a lot, so it’s not done on point. They’re not accurate, but a lot of them just do start to howl.

A Good Cause to Support

When you visit the Howling Woods farm, they won’t charge a specific fee. Instead, they request a donation of $30 per adult and $15 per child to help with the costs of feeding and maintaining their animals and facilities. This is a great way to support a good cause and have an unforgettable experience at the same time. And the good thing is that the Howling Woods farm accepts cash, credit, and checks as payment for donations.

How to Plan Your Visit

If you are interested in visiting Howling Woods Farm, you need to make an appointment in advance. You can fill out a form on their website or call them directly at (609) 901-1387. As, The farm is open on select dates throughout the year, which you can check on their schedule.

a kid facing a wolf in a wolf farm in new jersey
Educational programs at Howling Woods Farm teach visitors about wolf conservation and their role in ecosystems.

What to Expect During Your Visit

When you arrive at Howling Woods Farm, you will be greeted by friendly staff and volunteers who will guide you through the facility. You will have the opportunity to interact with the wolves and wolfdogs, pet them, hug them, and take pictures with them. Some famous wolfdogs at the farm are Luna, Orion, Raven, and Sirius. Well, they are not aggressive or dangerous but rather intelligent, loyal, and affectionate. As an adult, you are responsible for your kids, so be aware of their behavior and take safety measures.

Conclusion

Honestly, if you could have a chance to go and visit, and there are several rescue centers like this around the United States, and I’m sure throughout the world, spend the day because first, the money that you are putting in goes directly into the place, into their food, into their habitat, into their care. Another thing is education. There were so many things that we learned about these Wolves and Wolves overall that I couldn’t show you by watching a YouTube video or by reading the book. It’s that hands-on interaction. It really moves you.

It really changes you, and they also have volunteering opportunities, so you could learn about how to volunteer and work with these animals, and who knows? Who knows, maybe your kid will all of a sudden become inspired and really want to work more with saving these animals or learning more about how to take care of these animals or animals in general. You never know what door is going to open.

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Last Updated on March 23, 2026

Marina Travel Experta

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